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Chicago to Kalamazoo to Detroit
A cross-Michigan record route from Chicago through Niles and Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor to Detroit.
Route: Chicago → Benton Harbor → Kalamazoo → Ann Arbor → Detroit · 15 record stores across 5 stops
Stop by stop
Stop 1: Wicker Park and Bucktown Milwaukee Avenue Run
Dusty Groove
Rare-groove specialists with encyclopedic soul and jazz knowledge.
Tip: Their want-list knowledge is legendary — ask staff about pressing variations.
1120 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA
Hours
Monday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Signal Records Wicker Park
A curated shop on Ashland Avenue known for original and Japanese pressings of jazz, plus Brazilian and other world records.
Tip: A smaller, carefully chosen stock; the bargain bins sit under the main racks. Open daily noon to 7pm.
1343 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Hours
Monday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Reckless Records Wicker Park
The Milwaukee Avenue branch of the Reckless group, stocking a large mix of new and used vinyl alongside CDs and DVDs. A staple stop on the Wicker Park record run.
Tip: Open every day 10am to 7pm, and the bargain bins reward patient digging. It is a short walk from Signal Records and Dusty Groove.
1379 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Torn Light Records
A Milwaukee Avenue shop with a deep vinyl stock especially jazz and experimental music, plus tapes, CDs and used books.
Tip: Open daily 10am to 7pm, and a good last stop at the north end of the Milwaukee Avenue run.
1855 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Stop 2: Southwest Michigan Lakeshore
Rumor Records
Niles shop with a very large amount of records, plus audio gear and some new old stock.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday; first Michigan stop from Chicago.
216 E Main St, Niles, MI 49120
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM Saturday 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM Sunday Closed Phaseshifter Records
Benton Harbor shop in the Arts District with vinyl, CDs and cassettes and occasional live music.
Tip: Walkable to restaurants and a brewery in the Arts District.
198 Water St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Phoenix Records & Boutique
South Haven shop with used and new vinyl and sections for jazz, blues, country and folk, and comedy.
Tip: Open daily, which suits a lakeshore day trip.
330 Kalamazoo St, South Haven, MI 49090
Hours
Monday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Tuesday Closed Wednesday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Stop 3: Kalamazoo
Satellite Records
A downtown Kalamazoo shop with records, CDs and cassettes in many genres and a good metal section.
Tip: Busy on Saturdays and on Record Store Day.
808 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Stop 4: Ann Arbor Downtown Record Walk
Underground Sounds
A downtown Ann Arbor shop with a well-organised mix of mostly new, plus used, vinyl in all genres and an owner who helps with recommendations.
Tip: Open late Friday and Saturday (until 9pm).
120 E Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Hours
Monday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wazoo Records
Small downtown Ann Arbor shop with an eclectic inventory of new and used vinyl, CDs, and tapes — everything from rare finds to old techno — at great prices.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays. Regulars say the eclectic selection stretches your taste, so dig outside your usual genres.
336 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
Hours
Monday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Wednesday Closed Thursday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Friday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Encore Records
Well-organized Ann Arbor shop with a wide variety of vinyl and a reputation for fair trade-in values.
Tip: Bring records to sell — reviewers say trade-in offers are fair. Price tags are on the back cover rather than the sleeve.
208 N 4th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 PM
Stop 5: Detroit and Hamtramck Core
Paramita Sound
A downtown Detroit listening bar with a vinyl shop attached, built around DJs and rare records.
Tip: Evening-focused and open limited days (Wed, Fri, Sat evenings and Sunday daytime), so check before going.
1517 Broadway St, Detroit, MI 48226
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM Thursday Closed Friday 5:00 PM - 2:00 AM Saturday 5:00 PM - 2:00 AM Sunday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Third Man Records
Jack White's Detroit flagship — part record shop, part working pressing plant, part venue.
Tip: Book a pressing plant tour well ahead — they sell out fast.
441 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Peoples Records
Deep Motown, soul, funk, and house selection with an unmatched 45s collection at reasonable prices.
Tip: Set aside real time for the 45s bins — regulars report full days spent digging.
1464 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, MI 48207, USA
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Record Graveyard
A packed, well-organised Hamtramck shop with LPs, 45s and books, including hard-to-find soul and pop records.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Nearby Hamtramck has plenty of Polish and Bangladeshi food.
2610 Carpenter Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday Closed
Hours and details come from public listings and may have changed. Small shops often keep short or irregular hours, so check or call before a long trip. See something wrong? Use Still open? in the app and we will look into it.